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L. D.- LOVEKIN.

THERMOSTATIG GAS VALVE CONTROL APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1917. I

Patented June 14 I 1921. 2 SHEET S-SHEET l.

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L. D. LOVEKIN.

THERMOSTATIC GAS VALVE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 19w.

1,381,652, Patented June 14,1921.

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LUTHER D. LOVEKIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOVE-KIN WATER HEATER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A FIRM COMPOSEDOF MARGARET J. FOWLER, J

. SCOTT FOWLER, AND PHILLIP D. FOWLER.

THERMOSTATIC GAS-VALVE CONTROL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER D. LOVEKIN, a.

..citizen of the United States,.residing at 6320 ;ment-multiplyingdevices.

A further purpose of my invention is to connect a snap-action valveoperating mechanism to a thermal element by an adjustment extensible inthe direction of movement and guarding the operating mechanism fromimproper change of adjustment except when,

removed from the casing.

A further purpose of my lnventlon is to provide a thermal operatingmechanism for ,a snap-action valve opening and closing mechanism with aposition adjustment and a pressure adjustment in direct line with .eachother.

Further purposes will appear in the specifications and in the claimsthereof.

1 I have preferred to illustrate my invention by but one form thereof,selecting therefor a form which has proved in use to be practical,efficient and reliable, and which at the same time well illustrates theprinciples of my invention.

-Figure 1 is a side elevation of this preferred form of my inventionapplied to a water heater.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the regulating mechanism shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly sectioned, showing'the structure ofFig. 2 with the valve in a difl'erentposition.

Figs-:4, .5 and 6' are sections of Fig.3 taken upon lines 44, 5-5 and 66respectively.

In the drawings, similar numerals indicate like parts. 1 I

"My invention is applicable to a gas heat- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed May 22,

Patented June 14, 1921. 1917. Serial No. 170,155.

ing unit or assemblage for homes and comprises a boiler 7 heater 8 andregulating mechanism connected withltheheater by pipe The actualthrowing of the valve is accom plished by pressure of one or other ofthe faces 15, 16 of a nose 17 against one of the faces 18, 19 upon thewedge end 20 of alever 21 pivoted at 22' and carrying the valve at itsopposite end. The lever is supported by a bracket 23 and is pivotallyconnected with the valve stem 24. Upon the opposite side of the valvethe stem is secured'to thevalve by a nut 25 and passes through a guide26.-

The nose 17 is carried'by an arm 27 'pivoted at 28 to a lug 29 moved bythe sylphon element. A spring 30 secured to the end 31 of the lever andto a post 32 keeps the nose 17- constantly pressing against one or theother of the faces upon the end of the lever.. The post may be adjustedby means ofthe thread 33 and is locked in'adjusted position by the nut34, permitting variation'in the extent of opening of the valve.

The lug 29 is rigidly connected with a rod 35 which is threaded into afitting v36 upon the lower side of the sylphon thermal ele- -ment. Withexpansion and contraction of the thermal element the rod 35 is movedlongitudinally, in which movement it is guided against lateraldisplacement by the engagement of a disk or disks 37 38 with the wall 39of a cylindrical passage: and rotation of the rod is preventedbv guides40 upon opposite sides of the lug 29.

Movement of the svlphon element is resisted by a compression spring 41bearing conveniently against disk 38 upon the rod 35, at one end, andagainst a head 42 upon a screw at the other. The screw can be adjustedto vary the degree of compression of the spring. and is locked inadjusted position by the nut 44.

The gas inlet is shown at 45 and the outlet for pilot light supply isshown at 46.

48, permitting withdrawal of the thermal element, rod and lever when thespring 30 has been detached from the arm 27. The

casing is also separable in approximate line with the valve betweenflanges 49 and 50. An opening 51 is provided for convenient observationof the valve operation and access thereto.

In assemblage, the sylphon element and tube are connected with the rod35, carrying arm 27, before insertion. The spring 41 is placed in thelower part of the casing and the valve and valve lever are mounted uponit. The stop and tension spring 30 for lever 27 are put in place in theupper part of the casing. The sylphon element, rod and lever '27 arethen inserted and the spring 30 is securedto the lever, the lower partof the casing being conveniently attached last. The opening in the sideof the casing permits observation of trial working of the valve andexact preliminary adjustment of the position of the other parts whensnap action occurs, but without separation of the casing parts. i Y

In operation: From the position shown in-Fig. 2, corresponding torelatively cool boiler water and a contracted sylphon element, expansionof the sylphon element Icauses downward movement of rod 35 and arm 27with consequent downward travel of nose face 15 along the wedge face 18of lever 21'stretching the spring 30 and compressing spring 41 until thenose 17 passes the point at which the faces 18 and 19 meet. Immediately,the action of the sprin 30 causes the opposite face 16 of nose 1 7 toslide upon wedge face 19 of the wedge end 20' of the valve leverthrowing this lever quickly and to its full stroke to close the valve.The valve is maintained in closed position, by reason of continuedpressure of the nose 17 upon the surface 19, throughout any furtherdownward movement of the sylphon element and through partial upwardmovement thereof, the parts being in the position shown in Fig.3. Whenupward movement of the sylphon element causes the nose 17' to pass thepoint of the wedge end 20 of the lever 21, the valve is snapped open by"a corresponding full-stroke operation and is maintained in openposition, as seen in Fig. 2, during further upward movement of thesylphon element and any subsequent downward movement thereof up to thetime that nose 17 passes the point of the wedge The point of snap actionwith respect to the positien'of the sylphon element is determinable bylongitudinal adjustment of spring 41 or of the rod 35 within the fittingin the end of the sylphon element. Adjustment of the 'rod may be made bywithdrawing the element, rod and lever to permit the turning of the rodby one or more complete turns in either direction according to theadjustment desired. The necessity for withdrawal to eifect thisadjustment affords protection against accidental or unauthorized changein the adjustment.

The range of temperature change for a given movement of spring 41 andthe temperatures at which-the valve will close or open are capable ofadjustment by tightening or releasing the spring 41. This enables theuser to set the temperature of water to be maintained in the boiler, andgives a wide range of temperatures. To secure hotter water, the usermerely tightens the spring 41.

It will be noted that adjustment of the rod 35 either upwardly ordownwardly will require corresponding adjustment of the spring, if thesame range of expansion of the thermal element for a given temperaturerange is to be maintained.

t will be evident that various changes may be made in the form of theinvention within the scope of my claims while still ob my invention assecure 1.1m an automatic gas regulator, a

thermostatic element, a rod longitudinally adjustable with respect tosaid element, an arm pivotally connected to said rod, means foradjusting the position of the arm longitudinally with respect to theelement, a spring normally moving said arm transversely with respect tothe rod length, a nose or abutment on said arm and a snapaction valveclosure operated by said nose.

2. In an automatic gas regulator, a thermostatic element, a rod rigidlyconnected to and longitudinally adjustable with respect to said element,a retarding spring in line with the said rod, a compression adjustmentfor said spring and a snap-action valve-operating mechanism including alever .free from engagement with said retarding spring and carried bysaid rod, said mechanism being adjustable as to range and criticaltemperature by the adjustment of the rod and the spring.

3. In an automatic gas regulator, a thermostatic element, a rodextending longitudinally thereof, and adjustable longitudinally andhavin oppositel slopin faces en aged by said n%se and axralve oieratedb? the lever. V

4. In an automatic gas regulator, a thermostatic element, a rodextending longitudinally thereof, a compression spring resistingmovement of said element and rod, an

I arm mounted upon and pivotally connected at one end with said rod andlongitudinally movable therewith, a spring adapted to draw 10 the otherend of said arm away from said rod, a nose on said arm, avalve-operating lever pivoted at its center and having oppositelysloping faces engaged by said nose and separate longitudinal adjustmentsfor 15 said rod and said spring.

LUTHER D. LOVEKIN.

